COUNCILLORS and rail campaigners in Culcheth are keeping a close watch on developments following reports that the controversial HS2 high speed railway line could be revived in the North.
Few details are currently available – but new plans for a privately-funded funded alternative to HS2’s now-scrapped Birmingham to Manchester section are believed to be ready to be presented to the transport secretary Mark Harper.
It is believed that West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, are to put proposals for reviving the rail line between Birmingham and Manchester to Mr Harper.
The plan could involve a dedicated line between the two cities.
But it is thought to be “highly unlikely” to be exactly the same as the HS2 scheme.
In October, the Prime Minister announced the parts of high speed rail line linking the West Midlands to Manchester, and to the East Midlands, would be cancelled.
HS2 trains are currently expected to continue north to Manchester on existing conventional tracks.
Previously the proposed the HS2 Golborne Spur would have cut through the Culcheth and Lymm areas with devastating environmental impacts.
Then the Golborne Spur was axed from the scheme, much to the relief of local campaigners. HS2 north of Birmingham was later scrapped completely.
But now talk of reviving the project, using private funding, has underlined the need for local councillors and campaigners to stay on guard.
CADRAG chairman Frank Allen said: “We are keeping a close watch on the situation although it appears at the moment that any new line would be unlikely to be coming near us.
“Certainly it has been stated that any new proposal would be highly unlikely to be a carbon copy of HS2.”
Cclr Keith Bland, chairman of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, said: “This is a worrying development but we know very little about it at present. It is something for us to keep an eye on.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said options being considered were “maybe a dedicated line, maybe upgrades to the existing line”. The aim would be to relieve the “very very congested” West Coast Mainline, improving connectivity and reliability.
But he said it would be unlikely to be exactly the same as HS2 as the project was so over budget.
The proposals were only in their early stages, he added. But research into alternative rail improvements was being done with the prime minister’s approval.
Rail campaigner Frank Allen
